AT half-time, Newport could consider themselves fortunate to still be in contention in this cup-tie.

AT half-time, Newport could consider themselves fortunate to still be in contention in this cup-tie.

At full-time, on the other hand, they must have wondered how they had managed to lose it.

An exchange of penalties meant the score was all square after quarter of an hour.

Swansea outside half Cameron Clement broke through the Newport defensive line to score the first try of the game. Clement’s opposite number, Tom Hancock, immediately struck back with a penalty to close the margin to two points.

Full back Nicky Thomas extended Swansea’s lead with a 39th minute penalty.

The opening minutes of the second half saw a Cameron Clement penalty move Swansea further ahead. It took Newport just two minutes to hit back with a Tom Hancock penalty.

When Swansea flanker James McKenna was yellow carded for an infringement at the breakdown, Newport took two minutes to exploit the opportunity, a tap tackle just stopping flanker Craig Attwell from breaking through before Andrew Brown touched down to level the scores. But it was Swansea who claimed the deciding score when a rare foray into the Newport half produced a successful kick for Clement in the 79th minute.